They played four rounds of rock, paper, scissors. It ended with two wins for Kuro, and one win for each, Yumi and Naoko.
The one who suggested it seemed to be a mess. She was sitting on the ground all curled up as she kept mumbling to herself over and over again
"Why didn't I win a single won...? " She mumbled repeatedly.
"Okay, let's visit the indoor clubs first! " Yumi exclaimed, Shiro cocked her head to Yumi in disbelief.
"You're just gonna ignore me? How cruel! " Shiro said, faking cries.
"Stop fooling around. " Yumi responded with a wry smile, making Shiro jump.
"Sorry, Ma'am! I'll stop fooling now~! " She exclaimed. Earning a satisfied grin from Yumi.
Continuing on the hunt for clubs, they first visited the club that Kuro wanted to check out.
The Literature club was the same size as the art club, the wall was painted teal, and it featured a long meeting table, a medium-sized bookshelf filled with a wide range of books, including works of classic and contemporary Japanese literature, as well as international literature.
"No way! It's the literature club! " Shiro said in disbelief.
"Booooring! " She added with a sigh, clearly showing her objection to Kuro's taste.
Though Kuro always had a monotone face, his mouth formed a slight smile, he seemed happier than usual Nao thought, glancing at him.
"Are you planning to join the literature club, Kuro-kun? " Nao asked smiling.
"Yes, I am," Kuro replied as he nodded returning Nao's smile.
"I've always had a passion for literature, and joining the club seems like a great opportunity to explore that interest further. Plus, I've heard great things about the club and the activities they do." Kuro's excitement was evident in his voice as he spoke, his pitch was higher by one level.
"hm. Is that so, " Yumi mumbled, her face facing away from them.
They engaged in various activities, such as reading, analyzing literature together, and discussing the book that they read, the discussions were lively and filled with different perspectives, allowing the members to broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of literature.
Kuro actively participated in the discussions, sharing his thoughts and insights on the books they read. His passion for literature was contagious, it inspired the other members to delve deeper into their literary interests, and they all ended up having a blast, including Shiro despite her earlier complaints.
Without them realizing it, two hours had already passed, and they continued to visit the club that Yumi was interested in. When they arrived at the swimming club, the sound of water and echoing laughter filled the air.
The club room was located near the pool, and it had large windows that allowed a view of the glistening water. The room itself was adorned with posters of famous swimmers and shelves filled with trophies and medals won by the club members.
Yumi's eyes lit up as she took in the sight.
"This is it! The swimming club!" she exclaimed.
"I've always been fascinated by swimming, and I can't wait to check it out."
Nao, Kuro, and Shiro followed Yumi into the club room. A friendly senior member approached them, introducing herself as Aki, the club captain.
"Welcome to the swimming club! We're thrilled to have you here. Are any of you interested in giving it a try?" Aki asked with an inviting smile.
Yumi was practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "Yes, definitely! "
Nao, Kuro, and Shiro exchanged glances. Although they hadn't considered swimming before, Yumi's excitement was contagious.
"I think we'd like to give it a shot too," Nao said, and the others nodded in agreement.
Aki explained the basics of the club and introduced them to the coaches and some of the other members who were already in the pool, practicing their strokes.
As they entered the pool area, Nao noticed the soothing sound of water and the echoing splashes. They watched as the club members gracefully glided through the water, their dedication and skill evident in each stroke.
When they finally dipped inside the pool it was comfortable or even slightly warm, Nao was the one who had the most trouble with swimming, she could float just fine, but she could never actually swim.
Kuro and Shiro had always been active with Yumi, and so when Nao watched them swim, she felt that in comparison to herself, they were like pros.
One hour had passed, and so they cut it short, continuing to go to the club that Nao wanted to visit.
As they prepared to leave the pool and head for Kyudojo, where the kyudo club awaited, Nao's enthusiasm was palpable. Despite her lack of knowledge and experience, the prospect of trying archery had her skipping with joy.
The Kyudojo, with its traditional Japanese architecture, extended majestically over a distance of 28 meters. Nao couldn't help but be in awe of the intricately designed wooden floorboards that stretched ahead, leading her gaze toward the distant target. The scent of polished wood and the echo of silence in the vast hall created an atmosphere that was both serene and full of anticipation.
All the Kyudoka were deeply engrossed in their practice, creating silence broken only by the whisper of arrows striking targets or occasionally finding the ground.
Amid the impressive expanse of the archery range, Nao's attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar figure. She had been so captivated by her surroundings that she failed to notice his presence until his voice broke the silence.
"What are you doing here, Nao?"
The voice was unmistakably belonging to someone she had met not long ago.
"Minamoto-kun!?" she thought aloud, turning to face him.
Yuto stood before her, his right hand encased in leather gloves, clad in the traditional attire of a kyudo practitioner. His training wear included a chest guard that glistened in the soft light, and he wore a hakama, its pleats flowing with an air of graceful precision.
"Could it be? You're here to cheer me on?" Yuto teased with a grin.
"No, I'm just here to explore the club. Didn't expect to find you practicing," Nao replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement as a playful ouch came out from Yuto's mouth.
"Naoko-san / Nao-san, do you know him?" Yumi and Shiro inquired, their curiosity piqued. They approached Nao, leaving Kuro to converse with Yuto. Shiro's eyes were wide with wonder, and Yumi's gaze held a touch of intrigue.
"Yeah, we're friends. He's in the same class as us; his name's Yuto Minamoto," Nao responded.
"Minamoto-kun...?" Yumi whispered thoughtfully.
"Hm? What did you say, Yumi?" Shiro leaned in to hear more.
"It's nothing; I just felt like I've heard that name before..." Yumi responded, lost in thought until it suddenly clicked. "Minamoto-kun...? Oh! I get it now!" She exclaimed loudly, making Nao jump.
"W-What do you mean?" Nao asked.
"Minamoto Yuto! He's the son of the Minamoto family, one of the richest in Japan!" Yumi's eyes sparkled.
"Now that you mention it, I remember hearing my father talking about them! " Nao said.
"Now that I've finally cleared my mind, how about we start our trial period?" Yumi suggested, her excitement evident in her voice.
"Yeah, let's ask Minamoto-kun!" Shiro exclaimed, turning as she walked toward him and Kuro.
The group quickly gathered to discuss their plan with Yuto, who seemed equally excited to instruct them to change into the appropriate uniform provided in the changing room. With Yuto's and the seniors' guidance, they eagerly embarked on their Kyudo journey, ready to embrace the ancient art of Japanese archery.
It was hard for Nao to keep up with the steps as the learning process proved to be more challenging than she had expected. However, her determination and the encouraging words of her friends and Yuto kept her motivated to continue. She executed the bows flawlessly, using the bow selected by a senior for her beginner level. She began with Nocking (Yugamae) by placing the arrow on the bowstring with precision, ensuring the bowstring rested securely in the small groove on the arrow's lower nock.
Ouch- My stomach kind of hurts... She grimaces.
As she moved on to Drawing the Bow (Hikiwake), she faced the challenge of maintaining a balanced and stable posture. With her back straight and her left arm in perfect alignment with her right, which held the arrow, she drew the bowstring smoothly.
During Full Draw (Uchiokoshi), she faced a moment of pause, focusing on her target with unwavering determination. Maintaining her posture and focusing on her aim proved to be physically and mentally demanding.
At the point of Aiming (Monomi), Nao's concentration was tested. In Kyudo, aiming was more about mental focus than visual alignment. She had to keep her gaze steady on the target while concentrating on her intention to hit it, cultivating a sense of meditative concentration.
As she advanced to Expansion (Kai), Nao faced the challenge of smoothly expanding her chest and back muscles to generate the force necessary for the arrow's release. The expansion had to be natural and controlled, emphasizing the flow of energy through her body.
Finally, the Release (Hanare) was a moment of surrender, where Nao needed to let go without conscious effort. Her fingers relaxed, allowing the bowstring to slip away naturally. This step was challenging because it required her to trust in the previous stages of her form.
Despite the physical and mental demands, Nao's determination remained unshaken. Her stomach might have ached from the stress and tension, but she persevered. The support of her friends, Yuto, and the senior practitioners fueled her resolve to continue her Kyudo journey. Even though she missed the target, she couldn't help but feel a sense of fulfillment and had fun during the process.
Yuto seemed like a natural hitting the targets with only a couple of misses, though he was still a beginner, his forehead was drenched was sweat, and his eyebrows furrowed from focusing.
Though initially skeptical, Yumi's curiosity and determination grew as she discovered Kyudo's focus and discipline. Her competitive spirit drove her to hit the target, despite a few misses.
Maintaining his calm demeanor, Kuro's enthusiasm for Kyudo quietly built. He valued precision and detail, and Kyudo's meditative aspects aligned with his introspective nature. He appreciated Kyudo's combination of physical and mental practice.
Beginning with humor, Shiro's attitude shifted as she realized Kyudo's unique challenge. The discipline and focus intrigued her, and her competitive spirit was ignited.
Two hours had now passed, and the sun was setting as the sky tinted orange.
"Woah, it's already this late? " Yuto exasperated.
"Well, I guess this is it for today! " Yumi exclaimed in relief, stretching her sore muscles.
"I'm so tired... " Nao exhaled a deep breath, her limbs falling as proof of her fatigue catching up with her.
"Come on, let's go and change already! " Shiro pushed both Nao and Yumi forcibly to the changing room.
"We should get changed too. " Kuro said.
"Yeah you're right, let's go. " Yuto replied, nodding his head.
All of them changed and went back to the dorm for rest.